Grave Health Conditions Reported By Wife of Political Prisoner On Hunger Strike

Nazanin Davoodi, the wife of prisoner of conscience Arzhang Davoodi, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about the deteriorating health of her husband. “Last year, his phone calls were discontinued and he was not allowed to have contact with anyone. He complained about the unreasonable loss of phone privileges to the head of the prison in a letter dated 11 February 2010. But, instead of responding to his complaint, he was moved to solitary confinement, and subsequently went on hunger strike beginning on 14 July 2010. “

Weekly Rights Podcast 10, Sept 10-16, 2010

In this week’s “Weekly Rights Podcast”: American hiker Sarah Shourd is released from prison after bail was paid through an Iranian account in Oman; Shiva Nazar Ahari is reportedly released from prison but still awaits a verdict on charges of enmity against God; Abdollah Momeni writes a letter addressed to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, chronicling the torture and abuse he endures in prison; Nasrin Sotoudeh has been detained and the Campaign calls for her immediate release; Hossein Karroubi, son of former presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi, describes the attack on his father’s home carried out by pro-government forces; and as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives this week for the United Nations General Assembly the Campaign has released a Reporters’ Guide for Interviewing Iranian Officials after reviewing dozens of interviews with Ahmadinejad and highlighting trends and methods for properly interviewing him.

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Reporters’ Guide for Interviewing Iranian Officials on Human Rights Issues

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has reviewed and analyzed over twenty interviews with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and prepared a guide for reporters to be used during his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The Campaign has highlighted important trends on human rights issues and advisement on how to approach those issues with Ahmadinejad.

How to Interview Iranian Officials on Human Rights Issues

I. Introduction: Human Rights Under Siege in Iran
II. A Brief Summary of Major Human Rights Violations in Iran

Charlie Rose with Ahmadinejad

Charlie Rose Interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad September 28, 2009 CHARLIE ROSE: Tell me in your words what happened in the election in Iran, and why it resulted in so many people in the street, so many people arrested, so much talk about arrest, torture, death in prisons including children of highly respected Iranians. And are [...]

Appendix: Iranian Officials’ Replies to Human Rights Oriented Questions in Previous Interviews

Back to Main Interview in which questions pertaining to human rights were asked (most recent first): 1. George Stephanopoulos – ABC News 2. Kim Bildsoe – Dutch TV 3. Jon Snow – Channel 4 UK 4. Katie Couric – CBS Evening News 5. Charlie Rose – PBS (September 2009) 6. Larry King – CNN (September [...]

Ann Curry

Interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by Ann Curry of NBC News September 18, 2008 ANN CURRY: You are a father what do you say to the families who accuse this government of brutalities, torture, disappearances of their sons and daughters? AHMADINEJAD: You are expressing certain claims that by and large are being leveled by those who [...]

Larry King with Ahmadinejad – September 2008

Ahmadinejad’s Interview with Larry King – CNN September 23, 2008 KING: By the way, you mentioned human rights in Israel. Don’t you have some human rights problems of your own in Iran? AH: What do you mean by human rights problems? KING: People protesting that they don’t have the same rights as other people? Homosexuals [...]

Amy Goodman of Democracy Now with Ahmadinejad

Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman Interviews Ahmadinejad September 26, 2008 AMY GOODMAN: (Re: Homosexuality) On Wednesday, I asked the Iranian President to clarify his statement. AHMADINEJAD: I didn’t say they don’t exist, not the way they are here. In Iran it’s considered as a very unlikable and abhorrent act. People simply don’t like it. Our religious [...]

Christiane Amanpour

Interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on CNN and Iran Press TV by Christiane Amanpour June 14, 2009 CHRISTIANE: You said that you are the president of all Iranians no matter who they voted for. I’d like to ask you, what is the situation with your challenger Mr. Mir Houssein Mousavi and will you guarantee his safety, [...]

Diane Sawyer

Diane Sawyer of ABC’s ‘World News Tonight’ Interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad December 22, 2009 DIANE SAWYER: The three American hikers who say they accidentally wandered into Iranian territory while looking at waterfalls, Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal, and Sarah Shourd. You said you were going to do your best to set them free and to hope [...]